Shadows in the Bathroom

Warning: This post is exclusively for mothers so unless you are a mother, you should STOP reading right here. You’ve been warned.

Do your small children follow you into the bathroom? What is so fascinating about that room? My daughter did it and now the redheads do it. I can close the door and keep them out and then they stand there and cry the entire time so I figured it is just easier to let them on in. They stand right in front of me and wait until I’ve done my duty (or doody might be a better word). They make their “pushing” faces when the time is right (enough said) and do the stinky hand wave when the time is right. They watch me wash my hands and then we head out. I don’t know what the big thrill is. Even when I get my shower they want to be in there. They talk to me and will pull the shower curtain back and say “boo”. Now you know they have minds of children, otherwise the person pulling the curtain back would be scared seeing me in the shower.

I well remember my daughter doing that in the old house. She would sit on the edge of the tub and face me sitting on the toilet. And it seems like they have ESP and know you are going there even if they aren’t in the same room you are when you head that way.

One day I told my daughter “Please go away and let me poo poo in peace”. She looked at me seriously and said “No Mama, you better poo poo in the potty”.

I thought the shadow in the bathroom days were over…but along come the redheads. Now I have two shadows.

Haywire

Blogger went a little goofy on me so I'm only posting this to see what happens. It double posted my last one so I deleted one and now when I do "view blog" there's nothing there except a blank empty bar, no posts at all. We'll see what this does...

I've said it a hundred times already, blogger is NOT user friendly.

Bad Lunch, Good Lunch

I know I should bring my lunch more often. It would save time and money. But I just like a fresh, hot meal and enjoy getting out of the office too.

Yesterday was a waste of time and money. I left without having any idea as to what I wanted. I did want to stay on “this” side of town so my choices were Subway, chicken or chicken (I would include burger but this Ward’s is disgusting so that’s not even an option). While sitting at the red light I decided to go t KFC. I usually get a kids meal since my surgically altered stomach can’t hold much but since the KFC strips went to original instead of crispy (and no, you don’t have a choice) I’m not crazy about their strips. So I’m looking at the menu and see a snacker combo for $3.99. But I really don’t need TWO snackers. One snacker fills me up even without a side but now my brain is telling my stomach that I need a snacker AND potato wedges, knowing I can’t eat that much…but my brain wins. So instead of getting the combo, I order one snacker, wedges and drink. The total is about a dollar MORE than if I had gotten the combo which was more food. Shoot. I could have at least put a snacker in the fridge for later. I’ve pulled up so it’s too late to change my order. So I did something I don’t think I’ve ever done before. I pulled out of the drive thru lane. I was NOT gonna blow that extra buck.

I headed out and over to Church’s for honey bbq wings. I order. “We no longer serve those” they told me. What now? I had seen on their sign “Shrimps Are Back” (and what’s the deal with “shrimps”? At least they used a plural verb unlike Popeyes “shrimps is back”) so I ordered the shrimp basket. I hated to spend that much money but it was an impulse. That’s why I should always know what I want and where I’m going ahead of time. The shrimp turned out to be really gross so I ate a few and the rest, as well as all my fries, went in the garbage. They didn’t even give me one of those good little honey biscuits either. That was a bad lunch day for sure.

Today, I knew where I was going and what I wanted. Or so I thought. I did go to Piccadilly’s as planned. There was a new, nice little guy behind the counter. I always get a child’s plate with a chicken leg and sides but today they had some sweet and sour chicken that was looking pretty good. I asked if I could get it on the kid’s plate (I didn’t think I could but it doesn’t hurt to ask). No. I ask how much is just a helping of rice w/sweet and sour chicken. $4.98. So, it would only make sense for me to get a full meal and save the leftovers. I did. The little guy loaded me up with sweet and sour chicken on rice and asked me “is this enough?” while he was dipping. I got a green salad as a side. He asked if I wanted tomatoes, croutons and bacon bits. Yes, I said. No one had ever asked me that. He brings out three cups of dressing and asked “is this enough?”. Plenty I said. You get one more side he said. So I get the skin on potatoes and he fills both compartments up w/potatoes since my salad is in a separate box. Do you want lemon in your tea? Yes please I said. Wow! No one else had ever asked if I wanted lemon in my tea. He even gave me two sets of plasticware. One for my salad he said. What a nice guy!

He rings me up and says $5.34. Are you sure I asked. I had seen that the tea was $1.79. Yes he tells me. I asked if he included my tea. Yes. Okay, I’m not gonna argue.

So I ate half of my sweet and sour chicken and rice and have tons of food left for tomorrow or else to take home this afternoon.

It was a good lunch day indeed.

What's Your Hymn

I got an email showing hymn titles by occupation:

Dentist's Hymn – Crown Him with Many Crowns

Weatherman's Hymn - There Shall Be Showers of Blessings

Contractor's Hymn – How Firm a Foundation

The Tailor's Hymn - Holy, Holy, Holy

The Golfer's Hymn - There's a Green Hill Far Away

The Politician's Hymn - Standing on the Promises

Optometrist's Hymn - Open My Eyes That I Might See

The IRS Agent's Hymn - I Surrender All

The Gossip's Hymn - Pass It On

The Electrician's Hymn - Send the Light

The Shopper's Hymn – In The Sweet Bye and Bye

The Realtor's Hymn - I've Got a Mansion Just over the Hilltop

The Massage Therapists Hymn - He Touched Me

The Doctor's Hymn - The Great Physician


Since I'm a draftsperson I guess mine would be - Draw Me Nearer.

Can you come up with a hymn for your (or any) occupation?

Noos

The redheads are not picky eaters…thank goodness. My family pretty much eats anything so it is much easier having the girls eat what we eat. They love apples, bananas and grapes. They love most all kinds of vegetables they’ve tried, including collard greens. And like their grandma, they also love ice cream and chocolate.

The only thing they will not eat yet is bread. I’ve tried sandwiches, toast, hamburgers, McDonald’s hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, hush puppies. They just won’t eat it. They’ll eat crackers. Not bread. We’ll keep working on that though.

Right now they are hooked on Noos. Ramen noodles of all things. Spicy chicken Ramen noodles. Their mom likes the spicy kind but I did buy the redheads some regular chicken flavor so it wouldn’t burn those little mouths, even though the spice doesn’t seem to bother them. Lil Sis was asking for noos at 9:00 the other night. I don’t want them to eat them too often since they are so salty.

They start out eating it with their fork but usually end up using their hands. That’s okay. At least they are eating. The little squirts are twenty months old and still wearing size twelve month clothes. The doctor says they are fine, that they will catch up. They just started out smaller than most babies do. I’m sure he’s right the way they are eating now.

Too Many Amphibians?

Years ago, I collected pigs. Don't ask me why. I even had a real potbelly pig. But I soon became overrun with pigs and decided it was time for them to go. But still today, I may get a pig as a gift. So now, I like frogs, but I do NOT say I collect them because I don't want too many. I was looking at my yard froggies the other day and I do think I have enough. Of course, if I get a frog gift, I will graciously accept it, just like I do the piggie gifts.

These of course look better tucked away in summer flowers rather than dead winter ones and winter weeds they are in right now.

A solar frog. Gift from the hubby.


A watering pitcher. A Christmas gift.

Toad house. Gift from hubby and daughter. I try to keep it moist inside because real frogs actually hide out in there.

Gift from sister #3. I love this one.

I bought this one when my daughter and I went to Massachusetts at a neat little chain store called The Christmas Tree Shoppe. I wish we had those stores down south.

Another one from sister #3. He reminds me of Jabba the Hut.

Farewell to Another Favorite

First Joe,

Then John

And now Deuce. The Saints will never be the same without you.

Happy Monday

Adulthood

My daughter is eighteen today. I guess she is officially an adult...even though she will always be my baby.

Why is Alice Cooper's song "I'm eighteen, and I don't know what I what" going over and over in my head?

My Extended Family

Here are pics of the rest of my gang...

This is Sophie. We've had her for less than a year. She popped up at the house one day and decided she wanted to live with us. She is a sweetie so I couldn't send her away. She's lazy. She has to sit down while she's eating.

This is Sonny. He's about four years old. I think he's gay. I've never had to have him neutered. He doesn't spray and he doesn't stray. I think he may go to my brother's house ever now and then but most of the time he stays home. He's a manx. He has no indication of a tail at all. His dad was solid black and big and gorgeous.

This is Pepper. She also found us when she was just a pup. Some uncaring person apparently dumped her off. Her tail was already docked. She's about seven years old even though the gray around her face makes her look older. My sister says she is ugly...and yes, I agree, she's not too pretty, but we couldn't turn her away either when she was so little. She has always been a rambler. My sister's dog would come to our house every morning and they would take off until after dinner. Sometimes they'd do it again in the afternoons and sometimes she'd stay home. Unfortunately Pepper became very aggressive the older she became. Only to strange dogs, never a person. But after going to two of my neighbor's homes and attacking their dogs (one severely) we had to restrain her. I don't like it but I don't have much choice.

This is Sylvia, my prissy, finicky cat. She is gorgeous. But she doesn't like the other animals and she doesn't like the redheads. She will only eat dry catfood. I'm afraid if she were a human she would be like Paris Hilton. She's about nine years old.

Nighttime Visitors

I stupidly left a bag of Hershey’s Kisses lying on my desk last night. I knew better. But I figured with the warm weather the mice would stay outside and play. Wrong. They helped themselves to my chocolate! They drug a couple of kisses back behind my pc and left them...half eaten. They nibbled on a few in my bag. YUCK! I just hated throwing the rest of those chocolates away. Warm or cold weather, next time I’ll stick them in the refrigerator.

Mice have always been a problem in this factory but through the years we’ve had other animal intruders. I’m not surprised. This place is huge, covers several acres, and has openings everywhere.

It became overrun with cats one time. And there were so many cats it became infested with fleas. You could walk down through the warehouse and see the fleas jump onto your legs. They had to get professionals in to take care of that problem.

They built traps for the cats. I don’t know what happened to the cats once they caught them. I may not want to know. We still have cats that wander in and out and get their meals from the trash cans. We had a summer helper in engineering a few years ago (back when business was booming, unlike today). On his first day here, we could hear a kitten meowing in the wall. So we got him to tear off the paneling and get the kitten out. Apparently it had fallen in from the ceiling where they were born. I bet the summer help has never had to do that on his first day of work ever again.

I don’t remember if I’ve ever taken a kitten home from here before but I have a stray dog. It was a beautiful, long haired little mutt. She made an excellent pet.

I’ve seen only one snake in here.

Okay, now I’m off to the stock room to get sticky traps. I’ll teach those menacing mice to steal my chocolates.

First Cut

I finally got my daughter to agree to get the redheads' bangs cut. We were constantly pushing hair out of their eyes and they would NOT leave a barrette or pony tail holder in it. It turned out cute even if they do look like little boys now. We'll let them grow when they get older.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part...

…especially when you’re hungry.

We decided on the spur of the moment to go to Hattiesburg Friday night, just to shop a little and eat supper. We only went to Kirkland’s and of course, Kohl’s. Found some great deals. I was wanting a mirror to replace the framed art above my mantle and I found a great one on sale. At Kohl’s (I love that store) I found the redheads some play shirts on the clearance rack for $2.40 each. Short sleeve, summer shirts, two of each style and size, which is hard to come by. So by the time we got through shopping we were ready for supper. It was about 7:00.

My husband had been craving Outback so we headed over there, which was fine with me. I wanted some crab cakes. We found a parking spot and headed in. Gave our name to the hostess and she said the wait time will be…about one hour. ONE HOUR. Shoot. I knew they would be busy but never dreamed it would be a one hour wait. Outback is good but not that good. We didn’t want to wait that long.

We went back up the road to Longhorn. We had never been there so we were taking a chance. Wait time…50 minutes. Ugh. Plus the alcohol smell was extremely strong. I didn’t want to wait there.

We walked on over to Olive Garden just next door. 30 minute wait time. I could handle that. It actually only took about 15 minutes before they seated us. I ordered something different that I’d never tried before. It was okay but not that great. Oh well. It filled me up with plenty left for a doggie bag. My husband really enjoyed his meal thank goodness.

It just amazes me that with all the restaurants in Hattiesburg that the wait time is so long. I guess we could have went to Backyard Burger or Raising Canes and eaten quicker. Those are treats to me since we don’t have one around here. Next time we go we’ll either time it better or eat fast food. I just hate waiting.

Tagged

Coop tagged me with a photo challenge. Here are the rules:

1) Go to the 4th folder in my computer where you store your pictures.
2) Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
3) Explain the picture.
4) Tag 4 people to do the same.

This is a sepia version of a photo of my husband taken at Ruby Falls. We went to Pigeon Forge in March of 2007 and had a great time. I'm hoping we can go back sometime.

Okay, I tag:

Leigh Ann - http://www.leonsworldtoday.blogspot.com/
Mark - http://markwilliamslive.typepad.com/a_day_in_the_life/
Andra - http://andrasnamelessblog.blogspot.com/

And after a lot of thinking:
Ben - http://vitrioleandvenom.blogspot.com

Mission: Impossible

On my drive into work this morning, I was racking my brain trying to remember just how long it’s been since I became addicted to cheesy tots. I have no idea. Well over a year. And what’s so strange, before my addiction I probably could count on one hand how many times I’ve been to BK in my life time. Seriously. I just don’t care for their flame broiled burgers at all. I know I wasn’t on my way to work one morning and just thought, “hmmm, I’ll go to BK for breakfast this morning”. It would have to have been a non-working day. But I just don’t know when or why or where. And I have no idea when BK started serving cheesy tots either.

But anyway, all this to say, I am hopelessly addicted. I tried kicking the habit a few months ago and failed. This time I thought I’d just cut back. I did. For two whole weeks. I was doing good, cheesy tots on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, then half a bagel with berry cream cheese spread at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But this week I failed miserably. It’s been cheesy tots every day. I don’t know what BK puts in them to cause the addictions. Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine maybe. I don’t know. Or maybe it’s just the creamy, cheesy, potatoey good stuff on the inside and that crunchy little brown crust on the outside. Sigh.

Maybe I am in need of a twelve step program.

Double Dipping

Hooray for democracy but the thought of dipping my finger into a jar of liquid that hundreds of other people have already dipped into just grosses me out.

Weekend Tidbits

It was a nice, relaxing, yet productive, weekend.

The redheads were at their other grandparent’s house Friday night so hubby and I watched Fireproof. It was an excellent Christian film with a good story line. Like “Facing the Giants”, you can tell the actors are not all professionals (especially the doctor) and that does distract some from the movie. It also had a few cheesy parts that could have been done differently or just left out, but overall, a good movie that gets its point across.

Daughter and boyfriend went and saw The Taken and they said it was very good. I like Liam Neesom so maybe we will get that dvd when it comes out since it was rated PG-13. I’d love to see Gran Torino but the R rating my turn me away from that one. I just don’t care to hear a lot of foul language.

Daughter and I went shopping in Hattiesburg Saturday. We hit the early bird sale at Kohl’s, which has a few good deals, then went to Target. We ate at Newk’s for the first time. It was good. We split a spicy shrimp pizza and she got a side salad. We stopped in Columbia at a formal wear shop and got a prom dress. It is very pretty on her and was very reasonably priced. I love the shoes she got. Just need to find the right earrings now.

The ballgame didn’t turn out like I would have liked it to but I wasn’t just heartbroken since neither team was a usual favorite of mine.

The girls went to bed VERY early. So I did too. A rare treat which was very nice.

Now, gotta get started on a dreary Monday.